When it comes to mission work, “check your motivation.” Almost 70 youth and adult volunteers from the Bay United Methodist Church community took this admonition to heart as they travelled to Wise County, Virginia, with Appalachian Service Project (ASP). While sometimes mission work starts as a checkmark on a college application or a “look at me” post on Instagram, typically those who serve find that in the end, they do not know who was blessed more, those served or those who serve.

From June 10-16, 23 adults and 47 youth from Bay United Methodist Church and the surrounding community hopped into 10 vans to spend a week in the mountains of Virginia. Partly due to the closing of several mines and the lack of industry to replace them, 61 percent of Wise County families are near or below the poverty level and over 28.5 percent of those are disabled.

With the prime growing season in full swing, the fruits and vegetables in Westlake’s community garden got a little extra help from above last month.

Warm summer sun mixed with bouts of gentle, steady rain are a boon for any gardener, but a sprinkle of holy water and prayers for a bountiful harvest may add a bit of insurance for Westlake’s growers.

On July 25, Rev. Damian Ezeani from UH St. John Medical Center led the annual blessing ceremony at the Westlake Community Garden on the hospital’s campus. After a brief welcome by Mayor Dennis Clough and UH SJMC President Robert David, gardeners joined Sister Kendra Bottoms in a hymn of praise. Sharing his own words and a prayer written by Westlake resident Brian Thompson for the garden’s opening in 2014, Rev. Ezeani blessed the garden and the nourishing food it provides.

All veterans and their families are invited to a picnic hosted by theAmerican Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Vietnam Veterans Association on Saturday, Aug. 25, from 2 to 6 p.m. at the American Legion Lodge, 695 Cahoon Road. Food will be provided for all vets and family for free. Wash will be provided and there will be raffles and games. All organizations will provide information if interested in joining one of the veterans groups.

Over 1,000 students enroll each year in orchestra, jazz, band, choral and Rockette programs from fourth to 12th grades. Bay Village Schools’ music program has been named one of the "Best 100 Music Communities in America" since 2003!

Bay Music Boosters is a volunteer, nonprofit organization established to support and promote the Bay Village public schools’ fine music education program. This year, Bay Music Boosters is having their Door-to-Door Membership Drive on Monday, Aug. 13, from 5-8 p.m.

Once again, Dover Congregational United Church of Christ held its Peace Village Day Camp the week of July 16 on the grounds of the church on Dover Center Road in Westlake. The children who attended the camp were from a variety of communities in the area who all had differing faith traditions or perhaps no faith traditions at all. The universal concept of peace is one that transcends all belief systems.

The children, who ranged in age from 6-15 years old, spent the mornings going to different stations to learn about the four main concepts of peace: Peace within Self, Peace with Others, Peace in our Culture and Peace with the Planet. They made projects, learned new songs, and put into action ways to demonstrate peace.

The afternoons were focused on community service. The older children went off-site for various projects: They went to Community Cares in North Ridgeville to do some landscaping. In addition, they worked at Med Wish, made no-sew blankets for sick children at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital and created cat and dog toys for the ASPCA in Parma.

One of the advantages of volunteering for the Westlake Historical Society is being able to see newly donated items. On a recent Sunday during my hosting the open house of the Clague Museum I was looking through a box of books donated by the family of dear Roger and Lollie Cooley, longtime Westlake Historical Society members who have both died recently.

A book that caught my eye was an autobiography of one of Westlake’s most famous native sons, Jack Miner. It was inscribed to Roger and Lollie by Jack’s descendant Kirk Miner. The Cooley and the Miner families have an association that goes back to around the time that Jack was born in Dover Township in 1865.

Sure, my kids, like yours, never get in trouble. They exercise an hour a day, limit Fortnite/video games to two hours, put schoolwork before network, eat broccoli before brownies. Still, I believe they need certain facts straight. So when one of them says, “Hypothetically, if one …,” they can help each other, know what’s available, where to turn.

In launching my second child towards college, I keep these health issues in my peripheral vision.

The Community of Fine Arts Show is currently displaying 100 pieces of art at Westlake Porter Public Library, 27333 Center Ridge Road. Works from 52 artists have been accepted for this juried art show, which is presented annually by the Westlake-Westshore Arts Council.

The current exhibit continues through Saturday, Aug. 25, during library hours. In addition, live art demonstrations will be given in the lobby of Porter Library by artists whose works are on display. On Saturday, Aug. 11, Sean Crum will demonstrate Ink Drawing and on Saturday, Aug. 18, Ken Marshal will demonstrate Watercolor. Both programs are from 10 a.m. to noon.

The WWAC also invites the public to a Meet the Artists Reception & Awards Ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 25, from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

On Dover Center Road just south of the old Broadview Savings and Loan branch office (the current Citizens Bank building) is a small Victorian farmhouse. What is the story behind this house? Who lived there? Who built it?

Elizabeth Hughes grew up in a log cabin on the Ohio River in Cleves, Ohio. Her next door neighbors were Joel and Margaret Cahoon, living in their log cabin. As children growing up together, Joel and Margaret's son Tom Cahoon and Elizabeth played together and became good friends.

When the Cahoon family moved north to Dover Township, Elizabeth and Tom kept in contact through letters and visits. As young adults, they married in 1860, in the Hughes' log cabin, and moved to Cleveland. Tom and Elizabeth had a daughter they named Effie.

Fiscal Officer’s Report: WCOG doesn’t require audit for one year, so will save money this year.

Commission Reports:

RTA: Mayor Clough is president of the board of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority for one-year term, agency needs to work on transition, search for replacement for Director Calabrese. Agency needs to tighten internal control. It needs a new source of revenue; sales tax accounting for $20 million won’t be available in 2019. For time being, cutting back on positions, planning no additional capital projects, trying to determine what type of tax appropriate to replace revenue. Sales tax is best, but how much needed? Most capital funding comes from federal government; more needed to replace old rail cars. More could come from NOACA; need to have policy conversation around this.

August’s Magical History Tour takes us to the bucolic village of Wellington, located about 40 minutes away on OH-58 South. Visitor information can be found villageofwellington.com, and local restaurants and amusements are available.

This year, amid the tidy fields of corn and big red barns of southwest Lorain County, the village of Wellington is celebrating its 200th birthday. In 1818, four men from Massachusetts began the 600-mile journey to present-day Wellington, being joined along the way by William T. Welling from New York. Welling had the honor of naming the town, though whether he named it after himself or after the Duke of Wellington is still a matter of contention.

Incorporated on Aug. 6, 1855, the village of Wellington consisted of about 12,000 acres of the central area of the township. The impressive town hall, also built in 1855 for a cool $40,000, boasts an uncommon combination of architectural styles – Byzantine, Greek, Gothic and Spanish. At the time, it hosted the largest opera house between Cleveland and Columbus; today the majority of the town hall is occupied by administrative offices.

Whenever anyone talks about the Indians' run of winning baseball over the last five years, the guy who invariably draws the most praise is skipper Terry (Tito) Francona. No question, it’s deservedly so, as the Indians manager has amassed an impressive resume in his 18 years managing in the big leagues.

Just the same, it would be foolish to downplay the impact Tribe President Chris Antonetti has had in shaping the roster of Francona’s Indians. Let’s take a look at the three biggest moves Antonetti has orchestrated which positively impacted Francona’s Indians as they experienced their half-decade of winning baseball:

1.) Antonetti's first may have been his worst, but it wasn’t all that bad in retrospect. He took a lot of heat when he traded prized prospects Drew Pomeranz, Alex White, Matt McBride and Joe Gardner to Colorado for Ubaldo Jimenez in June 2011. This showed a marked contrast between Antonetti and his boss, Mark Shapiro, as Shapiro never wanted to trade highly regarded prospects. And although Jimenez never did much for the Indians, he did have a good 2013 season when he went 13-9 and helped the Tribe make the postseason in Francona’s first year as Indians manager.

Anxiety in children can cause problems in social, personal and academic performance, and parents may feel at a loss on how to help their child deal with the excessive worry and nervousness. Join us at the Bay Village branch library on Monday, Aug. 13, at 7 p.m. to learn what every parent needs to know about parenting the anxious child, including how to differentiate worry and anxiety. Joanna Hardis, LISW, will engage participants and share elements of supportive communication and concrete tools that can be used with an anxious child. Plus, participants will have a better understanding of the role of accommodation in anxiety.

CHILDREN

Weekly Storytimes: Storytimes are on hiatus for the month of August. Please join us for storytimes again in September.

Friday, Aug. 10 (10 a.m.) BAYarts Book Discussion – Join friends, neighbors and library staff for a monthly book discussion on the BAYarts campus. This month's book, "Exit West" by Mohsin Hamid, is available at the library and BAYarts. No registration required.

Thursday, Aug. 9 (11 a.m.-noon) Crafty Adults – Create art of your own based on the work of a famous artist or holiday. For ages 18 and up with developmental or intellectual disabilities.

Saturday, Aug. 11 and Sunday, Aug. 12 (2-8 p.m.) Westlake Music Festival – Join us at the library on Saturday and at the Westlake Recreation Center on Sunday for a weekend of music, entertainment and family fun. A variety of musicians and bands will be playing throughout both afternoons, kicking off with kids' music at 2 p.m. Food vendors, face painting and more will also be onsite! Brought to you by Westlake Porter Public Library and the City of Westlake.

Saturday, Aug. 11 (10-11:30 a.m.) Beginning Coding for Adults – Learn the basics of coding through self-paced online modules. An instructor will be on hand to help get you started and to facilitate lessons. Please register.

Saturday, Aug. 11 (10:30-11:15 a.m.) Adapted Storytime – Children with varying learning styles and abilities learn in a safe, supportive environment where respect and appreciation for differences are encouraged. This 30-minute storytime, followed by time for socialization, is designed for children who may not be successful in a typical storytime experience. Content is geared toward ages 3-7, but all ages are welcome. Siblings may also attend, but must register separately. Registration begins one week before each session.

School is starting soon, and with that a lot of trash will be generated that was on pause all summer. I’m going to write about how you can make your (and your child’s) lunch waste-free – and I promise it is easier than you think!

I know you might be thinking, “That will be so difficult, it’s so easy to throw a sandwich in a plastic bag, an individual pack of chips, a plastic water bottle or juice box, etc.” I’m hoping to persuade you that it’s not only easier to pack a trash-free lunch, it’s also less expensive!

It’s been a while since I’ve written about the cord-cutting scene. To the uninitiated, cutting-the-cord replaces traditional cable or satellite TV service in favor of receiving TV programming through the internet (called "streaming").

The advent of “smart TVs” that have computer-like circuitry to connect to your home internet feed makes cord-cutting possible. Even a “dumb TV,” which in my column refers to any modern TV with available “HDMI” connection, can be turned into a smart TV for under $50. Yep, streaming devices such as Roku and Fire TV sticks can provide the same computer-like function to connect the TV to your internet pipe.

Again this fall, Case Western Reserve University's Department of Continuing Education is sponsoring a class in Bay Village. These courses are great in that there are no exams, no papers, no credits, hence no stress – just interesting. An opportunity to meet like-minded people, participate in stimulating discussions, and be led by a seasoned professional. And, may I add, ofttimes fun!

The fall session's topic is Winston and Clementine Churchill, two people whose lives had a great impact on the United States and indeed our country yet today. Two new biographies present fresh, contemporary perspectives on Winston and his wife, Clementine, who was indispensable to his life and important to Great Britain.

Look up! The Perseid Meteor Shower, one of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year, will occur the evening of Saturday, Aug. 11.

In preparation for this cosmic event, planetarium specialist Monica Marshall of Lake Erie Nature & Science Center is here to explain what a meteor shower is and provide tips for seeing shooting stars this August.

What is a meteor shower?

Comets are large, icy solar system bodies. As a comet passes closer to the sun, its ice warms and begins to release particles of dust and rock into the atmosphere, which can result in a glowing trail of vapor.

Get a glimpse into love (and sex) during life’s golden years when Bay Village Community Theater presents “I’m Herbert” at the BAYarts Farm + Art Market on Thursday, Aug. 16, at 6:30 and 7:15 p.m., 28795 Lake Road, Bay Village.

Featuring Lanie Richardson and Tim Peebles, this comedic sketch by Robert Anderson shows an elderly couple reminiscing on previous marriages … and perhaps a few flings. Hazy on the details, the couple don’t realize, of course, how funny they are! First produced on Broadway in 1967, The New York Post wrote that Anderson’s “notably fine comic and dramatic episodes” are “written with skill and insight.”

The Westlake Historical Society's annual Great Rubber Duck Race is a fun fundraising event that will be held on Sunday, Aug. 25, at 1 p.m., at the Westlake Recreation Center pond. Funds raised will benefit Clague House Museum upkeep, children’s programs and special projects.

You can join the race and adopt your ducks – $5 for a single duck, $25 for a “Six Quack,” and $49 for a “Quacker Pack” with 12 ducks! For each duck you sponsor, you will receive an adoption certificate with a number that corresponds to a duck in the race. When the rubber ducks are released into the Westlake Recreation Center pond, the first duck to cross the finish line wins!

The Bay Village Historical Society will host the third session in its series of summer porch talks on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2 p.m., at the Osborn Learning Center in Bay Village.

Don and Stephanie Ross will share family memories in, “Remembering Dr. Donal Ross … Bay Village Doctor.” The Ross family has volumes of photos, news articles, awards and activities logged throughout the years.

Admission to the porch talk is free and open to the public. Those attending are asked to bring their own lawn chair. Reuben Osborn Learning Center is located in Cahoon Memorial Park. Phone 440-871-7338 for information.

Mayor Dennis Clough with Richard Desich Jr., Equity Trust co-founder and host of the event, and Lydia Gadd, director of the Senior and Community Services Department, at the July 26 “What's Brewing in Westlake” business networking and fundraising event.

The storms that rolled through Westlake on Thursday, July 26, were barely a footnote for guests and presenters at the “What’s Brewing in Westlake” business networking and fundraising event at Equity Trust Company. Proceeds from the evening benefitted the social services programs of the Westlake Senior and Community Services Department that provides assistance to hundreds of the nearly 1,300 Westlake residents who live in poverty.

The event began with a welcome by Mayor Dennis Clough. He recognized Equity Trust’s co-founder, Richard Desich Jr., the host of the event; Westlake City Council members Kenneth Brady of Ward 5 and Mark Getsay of Ward 6; Michelle Boczek, economic development manager for the city; and many guests from the business community who have contributed to the vibrancy of the city. Enthusiastic applause greeted his mention of the new Senior and Community Services Center that will be constructed soon.

The Sullivan Gallery at BAYarts will be botanical from Aug. 10 through Oct. 6. Bringing in the blooms is Cleveland artist Bruce Checefsky, with his show titled "Garden Scans."

Images in this showcase accomplish the impression of flowers in motion. Checefsky manages this by taking a digital flatbed scanner out into his Tremont garden and uses it to photograph the area. The scanned images are made in 30-second intervals, on up to several minutes.

Once the piece is scanned, Checefsky sometimes does some reformatting in a photo editing program, but hardly ever alters the color, density or saturation. This is because he is a master of perception.

The Westlake Recreation Department is offering fall adult softball leagues for men and women.

Divisions will be Tuesday Coed, Wednesday Men and Thursday Men and all are doubleheaders. The season begins on Sept. 4 and continues throughout October. This is a 14-game schedule with 6:30 p.m. starts. Registration fees will be $325 a team with a $5 nonresident fee per player. Games fees are $34 a game. All game softballs are included in entry fee.

Barb Harrell, executive director of the Village Project, third from left, accepts a grant from Francis Gardner, Joan Mason and Chris Mead from Black River Education & Wellness Foundation.

Village Project is a grateful recipient of a $50,000 grant from The Black River Education and Wellness Foundation. The funds were presented to Executive Director Barb Harrell on July 31 by Francis Gardner, Joan Mason and Chris Mead.

The Black River Education and Wellness Foundation was organized in 1985 and originally chartered to support the operations of Elyria Memorial Hospital. Since 2014, after Elyria Memorial Hospital was acquired by University Hospitals of Cleveland, the Foundation broadened its mission and purpose beyond the support of just the UH Elyria Medical Center in order to maintain a commitment to the communities who have long been served by EMH and to have a meaningful impact upon health issues in those communities.

The Bay Village Community Services Department is hosting a fundraiser for Bay Village Meals On Wheels recipients on Saturday, Sept. 8, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Save the date and start putting items aside you’d like to sell or items you would like to donate as you begin your summer cleaning.

We are now taking registrations for table space ($15). Volunteers will be needed to help price and sell for the Community Services Department table, bake for the bake sale, and work in the kitchen. Come, shop and bring your friends! Everyone can do their part to help.

Westlake Meals on Wheels is thrilled to announce that its second kitchen opened on July 23. This additional location is in the community center in Olmsted Falls. The nonprofit now can serve even more homebound residents in Westlake, Bay Village and surrounding areas. A hot and a cold meal is made fresh and delivered Monday through Friday. Our drivers also provide a daily well visit.

Meals on Wheels can be used by people of any age recovering from surgery or battling illness, and homebound senior citizens. Residents can sign up for as little as one week.

Donations of non-perishable foods will be accepted at 671 Columbia Road, Suite 1, Westlake. The food drive began Aug. 1 and will run through Aug. 15. Items may be dropped off Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Company president Jason Orsky encourages local families and businesses to participate by donating unexpired canned non-perishable items. “We’d like to help families that are supported by the Westlake Community Services Food Bank have as the back-to-school season starts,” Orsky said. Suggested donations include canned meat, canned fruit, peanut butter and jelly. (No glass containers, please.)

The Women in Transition program at Cuyahoga Community College celebrates its 40th anniversary this fall with a new session of classes in Westlake to empower women in their pursuit of education, training and a career.

Classes will be held at Corporate College West from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from Aug. 27 to Oct. 17. The eight-week course is designed to assist women in transitional periods of their lives, such as a career change or return to the workforce.